Day Six – Gyeongju City to Daegu City


Today’s Distance / 今日の走行距離:About 70km
Time on bike / 走行時間
Average speed / 平均速度
Total distance to date / 現在までの積算距離
Money used / 予算使用:39,000KRW (NZ$65, US$41)

 I forgot to bring my bike computer to the net cafe so the stats will have to wait for antother day. And I am surrounded by gunfire. I’m note sure what the game is that everyone is playing, but obviously noone has discovered headphones at net cafes here.

 It has been two days of extremes. Yesterday I was wet to the bone, today I am burnt to a crisp. Left the guest house at about 9:30am after numerous photos with the other guests, and proceeded to have a very fruitful morning worth of riding. I was riding on the very generous shoulder of a highway for the whole day, which was quite alright with me. Good smooth riding with gentle ups and sweet downs. Twas very hot and I didn’t choose to apply sun block. Very dumb idea. I also did not rinse my shirt out well enough after hand washing it yesterday. Therefore I am also spotted Rob in addition to being baked Rob.

Very burnt / 焼けているとです。

I was riding very well till about 2pm when my body simply succumed to the heat. I had a very long break in the shade next to a service station where I was given a free iceblock and some biscuits, after which I continued my slog onwards towards Daegu City.

Friendly service station chap, Mr Kong. Leaves in October for military service.

In no mood to set up camp in the heat, I headed to the Daegu train station information booth where I was quickly told by the lady at the counter that “I don’t speak English”. Uh oh. “I only speak Japanese”. Then speak away, I said, and was promptly offered a full recount of the history of Daegu before I could get a word in edgewise and ask about a youth hostel. “Nearest youth hostel is 50 minutes by bus up a very large hill”. OK, so what else is there? “Many motels down the street. Ask around and you will get a good price”.

I went into the first motel I could find and was shown a room for 25,000KRW a night. In no mood to look around for somewhere cheaper, I took the room. It has a condom dispenser on the wall just as you walk in the door. A guy downstairs asked me if I had a girl for tonight. Hmmmm. I get the feeling its not often that just one person stays in a room at this motel…

Dodgy random motel / ちょっと怪し気なモテル

 Great news for the day is that I can withdraw cash from my Visa card from most convenience store ATMs.

I was a good boy and took more photos today. Mouse over for description.

Creepy crawlies / 虫達

Korean roof / 韓国の屋根

I look like this / こんな感じです


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12 thoughts on “Day Six – Gyeongju City to Daegu City

  • Andreas Roeschies

    Hi,

    you'll find more hotels/motels like that. They are not only used by young couples, but also by married couples who want to escape from their appartement, where their children and/or parents live. A box of tissue paper close to the bed is a definitive sign, but look also for a mirror above the bed, a p*rn channel and sometimes even red light in the floors.

    BTW: When choosing motels/hotels, you may want to ask for a room without a bed. Koreans do not use real beds, a sheet on the floor is all they need (this is nice at wintertime, when the floor heating "ondol" is turned on).

    Best Regards, Andreas

  • Murdo

    Hey Rob,

    What digi camera are you using, your photos are coming out really well! Have a good one. That insect is creepy!

    murdo

  • Lesley Bond

    Hi Rob, you arte certainly having an adventure. That spotted/burnt Rob photo looks like a good mug shot for a prison! I have been wonderiong how you clean your teeth with a sawn off toothbrush. Sam thinks you attach it to your finger with celotape.

    I was down in Dunedin last weekend staying with Rach and Sam. Nana went down with me but stayed with the Myles. It was great spending some time with the newlyweds. They certainly have a very nice house to live in with a great view over the Dunedin harbour. Nana took a photo or two of the place so I'll pass them on when the film gets developed.

    We have a buyer for our house. There was an Open Home last Saturday while we were away and we got 2 offers. One was ridiculously low but the other was the price we asked so we've gone with that. They have to sell their house, so there's no rush to move out. We've stipulated possession date to be no earlier than mid-October as Nana disappears off to the land of Oz next Tuesday. Our new house floor plans are all done and resource consent is now being sought. That'll take a couple of months.

    We've seen the sun everyday for the past week, which has been wonderful. We had the coldest and wettest May/June for years and this month has carried on the damp outlook.

  • Chris J

    Hi Rob!

    Chris here on a rainy Saturday in Nagoya. I am glad to see that you are off safely and that your trip is now a reality. The updates and pictures have been really great. I will definitely be checking in regularly for updates. Take care, take your time and enjoy every last minute of it!

    Oh, and for heavens sake, NEVER forget your sunscreen……

  • Rob Thomson Post author

    Murdo, I am using a Canon Powershot A700. I bought it just before the trip started because my Sony Cybershot packed a sad. The Powershot has a great wide angle lense and masses of options to play with.

  • Rob Thomson Post author

    Chris, good to hear from you. I hope the forklifts are treating you well! Take care there in the big city.

  • Rob Thomson Post author

    Andreas, ditto on the red light. My room has one on the wall. Also had some strange noises coming from the room beside me this morning…

  • EmJay

    Roberto-San!!!!

    Sounds like you are having one slammer of an adventure so far – tiredness and all!! Loving reading the blog, sorry it's taken me this long to actually get there but like you I am living the busy life only SO not as exciting!

    Hope to see you soon in New Zealand where we can have many many good times!!!

    Love HEAPS and HEAPS

    EMJAY

  • Rob Thomson Post author

    Hey EmJay, thanks for the visit. This trip is so funny. Har har. It's been a whirlwind time in Korea which is soon to be over. Only a couple more days and I'll be on my way to China. Crazy. Looking forward to seeing you in New Zealand next year sometime!